Testim Side Effects

Generic name: testosterone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 8, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Testim Side Effects associated with testosterone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Testim.

Applies to testosterone: transdermal patch extended release.

Other dosage forms:

• oral capsule liquid filled
• implant, oil, solution
• nasal gel/jelly

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and check for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine should not be used by women who are pregnant or might become pregnant. Testosterone may cause birth defects if a pregnant woman comes in contact with the patch or medicine. Make sure your doctor knows if your sexual partner is pregnant. If a pregnancy occurs while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If a woman comes in contact with the patch, wash the skin area right away with soap and water to remove all the medicine. If the patch sticks to a woman, remove the patch right away and wash her skin thoroughly with soap and water.

If your female partner starts to have male-like changes such as unusual hair growth or increased acne, check with your doctor.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

This medicine may increase the risk of prostate cancer, especially in older men. Make sure your doctor knows if you have prostate cancer, or if anyone in your family has prostate cancer.

This medicine may cause blood clotting problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg, shortness of breath, sharp pains in the chest, or trouble breathing.

This medicine may increase your risk of having heart or blood vessel problems, including a heart attack or stroke. Tell your doctor right away if you have chest pain that may spread to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, faintness, headache, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, trouble seeing or speaking, or unusual sweating.

In some cases, this medicine may decrease the amount of sperm men make and affect their ability to have children. If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you experience too frequent erection of the penis, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, or swelling of the ankle.

This medicine may cause swelling of the breasts (gynecomastia) and breast pain in some patients. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

This medicine may cause changes in the level of cholesterol and fats in your blood. If this condition occurs, your doctor may give you a medicine to adjust the cholesterol and fats. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine contains aluminum that may cause skin burns at the patch site if you have a procedure called a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan while you are wearing the patch. You must remove the patch before your MRI to prevent skin burns.

Check with your doctor immediately if mild, burn-like skin blisters, redness, itching, or swelling occurs at the site of application during or after treatment.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Testim

Along with its needed effects, testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking testosterone:

Other side effects of Testim

Some side effects of testosterone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to testosterone: buccal film extended release, compounding powder, intramuscular solution, nasal gel, oral capsule, subcutaneous implant, subcutaneous solution, transdermal cream, transdermal film, transdermal film extended release, transdermal gel, transdermal ointment, transdermal solution.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported side effects with this drug are edema, acne, site pain, injection site erythema, cough or dyspnea during or immediately after injection.

The most frequently reported side effects with testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) topical are skin reaction (16.1%) and allergic contact dermatitis (up to 37%).^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Testosterone topical: Skin reaction (16.1%), burn-like blisters (12%), itching, allergic contact dermatitis (up to 37%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Acne, induration, burning
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Alopecia, erythema, rash (including rash popular), pruritus, dry skin, folliculitis (testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) topical)
• Frequency not reported: Seborrhea, urticaria, male pattern baldness, hirsutism injection site inflammation
• Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, angioneurotic edema, hyperhidrosis, discolored hair, leukocytoclastic vasculitis^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Very common (10% or more): Accelerated growth
• Common (1% to 10%): Increased estradiol, hypogonadism
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased blood testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) Frequency not reported: Signs of virilization in women (e.g., hoarseness, acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, clitoral enlargement, and alopecia), precocious puberty (in prepubertal males)
• Postmarketing reports: Hyperparathyroidism, prolactin increased, testosterone increased^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Testosterone buccal film: Gingivitis (32.6%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, oily stools (due to IM injection oily solvent); Testosterone topical: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, gum or mouth irritation (9.2%), taste bitter, gum pain, gum tenderness, gum edema, taste perversion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Abdominal pain
• Frequency not reported: Abdominal disorder, intraabdominal hemorrhage
• Postmarketing reports: Vomiting; Testosterone buccal film: Dry mouth, gingival swelling, lip swelling, mouth ulceration, stomatitis^[Ref]

The majority of gum-related adverse events were transient.^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Testosterone topical: Application site pruritus (up to 37%), application site blistering (12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection site discomfort, injection site pruritus, erythema, injection site hematoma, injection site irritation, injection site inflammation; injection site reaction; Topical testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) Application site erythema, application site warmth, application site irritation, application site vesicles, application site exfoliation, application site burning, application site induration, bullae at application site, mechanical irritation at application site, rash at application site, contamination of application site
• Postmarketing reports: Injection site abscess, procedural pain, application site swelling (topical testosterone)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hot flush, hypertension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cardiovascular disorder
• Frequency not reported: Venous thromboembolism
• Postmarketing reports: Angina pectoris, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, coronary artery disease, coronary artery occlusion, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, cerebral infarction, cerebrovascular accident, circulatory collapse, deep venous thrombosis, syncope, thromboembolism, thrombosis, venous insufficiency, stroke^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal prostate examination, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), ejaculation disorder, prostatitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Prostate induration, prostatic disorder, testicular pain, decreased urine flow, urinary retention, urinary tract disorder, nocturia, dysuria
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Micturition disorders, epididymitis, bladder irritability, impotence, inhibition of testicular function and testicular atrophy
• Frequency not reported: Oligospermia, priapism, benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostatic growth to eugonadal state), excessive frequency and duration of erections; Pediatrics: Precocious sexual development, an increased frequency of erections, phallic enlargement
• Postmarketing reports: Prostate infection, calculus urinary, dysuria, hematuria, urinary tract disorder, pollakiuria, azoospermia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Polycythemia, hematocrit increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased red blood cell count, increased hemoglobin, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, prolonged prothrombin time
• Frequency not reported: Blood and lymphatic system disorders, suppression of clotting factors II, V, VII, and X, bleeding in patients on concomitant anticoagulant therapy
• Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, anemia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Weight increased, appetite increased, fluid retention (sodium, chloride, water, potassium, calcium, and inorganic phosphates)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased glycosylated hemoglobin, hypercholesterolemia, increased triglyceride
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal lipids (decrease in serum LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), metabolism and nutrition disorders, hypercalcemia
• Postmarketing reports: Hypoglycemia, diabetes mellitus, fluid retention, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, blood glucose increased^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, hemarthrosis (testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) topical)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia, pain in extremity, muscle spasm, muscle strain, myalgia, musculoskeletal stiffness, increased creatine phosphokinase
• Frequency not reported: Pediatrics: Premature epiphyseal closure, increased bone formation
• Postmarketing reports: Musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, vertigo (topical testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine, tremor, dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Nervousness, paresthesia
• Postmarketing reports: Cerebrovascular insufficiency, reversible ischemic neurological deficiency, transient ischemic attack, amnesia^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) increased, prostate cancer
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Neoplasms benign, malignant, and unspecified (including cysts and polyps)^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, hyperhidrosis; chills, body pain, smell disorder
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Breast induration, breast pain, sensitive nipples, gynecomastia, increased estradiol, increased testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) asthenia, night sweats
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Fever, malaise
• Frequency not reported: Edema
• Postmarketing reports: Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, Influenza like illness^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Irritability, insomnia, mood swings, aggression,
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Depression, emotional disorder, restlessness, increased libido, decreased libido
• Frequency not reported: Hostility, anxiety
• Postmarketing reports: Korsakoff's psychosis nonalcoholic, male orgasmic disorder, restlessness, sleep disorder^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cough, dyspnea, snoring, dysphonia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pulmonary microembolism (POME) (cough, dyspnea, malaise, hyperhidrosis, chest pain, dizziness, paresthesia, or syncope) caused by oily solutions
• Frequency not reported: Sleep apnea
• Postmarketing reports: Chest pain, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperventilation, obstructive airway disorder, pharyngeal edema, pharyngolaryngeal pain, pulmonary embolism, respiratory distress, rhinitis, sleep apnea syndrome^[Ref]

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary microemboli may occur during or immediately after the injections and are reversible.^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal LFT, increased AST
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Abnormal hepatic function
• Frequency not reported: Jaundice, benign liver tumor, malignant liver tumor, liver enlargement, peliosis hepatitis
• Postmarketing reports: ALT increased, AST increased, bilirubin increased, transaminases increased, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reactions
• Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic shock^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Testosterone (the active ingredient contained in Testim) topical: Lacrimation increased
• Postmarketing reports: Testosterone topical: Intraocular pressure increased, vitreous detachment^[Ref]

Renal

• Postmarketing reports: Nephrolithiasis, renal colic, renal pain^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What are the brands of testosterone?
• Is Jatenzo cost covered by insurance?
• Is Xyosted a controlled substance?

Further information

Testim side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer